Some people might be dog lovers, but this doesn't mean they all love the same set of characteristics in every dog. For those who appreciate a large amount of energy combined with courage, loyalty and affection, the Schnauzer is a breed to seriously consider. This breed originally hails from Germany and consists of three size classifications with their own particular requirements.

• Standard Form In German, this breed is known as Mittelschnauzer and stands out as the original version on which its two relatives are based. These dogs occupy a height range of 17 to 20 inches at the shoulder with a weight range of 30 to 50 pounds.
• Miniature Schnauzer This breed constitutes a lighter version of its standard companion. Called a Zwergschnauzer in German, this miniature dog was created by mixing the standard breed with Affenpinschers. They have a height range of 12 to 14 inches with a weight span of 10 to 15 pounds.
• Giant Schnauzer For people who enjoy large-size dogs, the Riesenchanauzer, as it's called in Germany, can deliver the goods with a height of 23 to 28 inches. These dogs are the result of blending the standard version with both Great Danes and Bouvier des Flandres. Their large frames can range between 55 and 105 pounds.

A Few Details

From images in paintings and from descriptions, it's certain that dogs with this appearance have existed in Germany at least back to the 1300s. The name comes from the German word for snount or muzzle. The breed was designed to perform much of the work characterizing terriers and was classified as a member of the terrier group until fairly recently. The dogs possess a strong instinct to pursue small animals as well as rather boundless energy. Physically, all three size classes contain the same proportions and distinct features. Their bodies are about as tall as they are long. The rectangular head has a somewhat angular look with prominent eyes and sharply pointed ears. Their most recognizable feature is their collection of long hair surrounding the muzzle that gives the appearance of a bushy mustache similar to that found on a Scottish Terrier. For show purposes, the tail is docked and the ears are cropped. This practice originated as a way for this rat catcher to take on prey without providing appendages that the rat or other creature could grab hold of. This practice has been outlawed in Europe. With this background information, there are four main things to consider about this breed.

• Training
• Exercise
• Grooming
• Health

Top 5 Routes for "Schnauzer"

To get a better understanding of how the aforementioned considerations apply to the three categories of this dog breed, there are five websites that stand out as great sources of knowledge.

1. Vetstreet.com While this site focuses on the standard size, its information concerning training and basic maintenance is easily applied to all three sizes of the breed.
2. AKC.org The American Kennel Club website offers complete coverage of all aspects involved in caring for the standard type of this breed. A particularly helpful feature is the large number of infographics that let readers quickly gain knowledge about the breed. There are also separate sites for the miniature and giant types of this breed.
3. Dogbreedinfo.com This site allows readers to check out each breed size in greater detail by clicking on the buttons. It also provides information on rescue programs for each of the particular breed sizes.
4. Animalplanet.com While this listing involves the giant type of this breed, Animalplanet also has sites dedicated to the other two size categories. This website offers videos supplying additional info about this dog breed.
5. Dogtime.com This particular website focuses on the standard size, but there are separate sites for miniature and giant types. A nice feature here is the dog's ratings with regard to a long list of characteristics.